Stanley John Miller

1926 - 2017

Stanley John Miller

June 23, 1926 - November 17, 2017

The Yacht-Racing-World has lost one of it's own. Stanley John Miller sailed most of his life in Long Beach and Southern California, but often sailed to Mexico and other Ports-of-Call. He was born June 23, 1926 in Good Samaritan Hospital to Florence Gaines and Paul MIller, and left us on November 17, 2017 in Palm Desert. Raised in Glendale, CA., he graduated from Hoover High School. In 1944, because of WWll, he became a Naval Air Cadet, but never left the states - as the war ended in 1945. He then entered Occidental College and transferred to USC, pledging Kappa Alpha fraternity. At the time, his goal was to be a teacher and coach.

After graduating from U.S.C., he married Jackie Foster and they had one daughter, Katlyn, now of Las Vegas. He coached track and wrestling in schools in Southern California, but his REAL LOVE was sailing. Eventually, he began to 'rig' boats in the Long Beach area. Happily, in the late 1950's and early 1960's, fiberglass was replacing wood for building boats and yachts. His hope was then to become a Yacht dealer. With Stan's reputation as a well-known Yachtsman, his brother, Jim MIller - now of Palm Desert, offered to finance the new dealership, and their long partnership began. "STAN MILLER YACHTS" opened in Long Beach Marina in 1962. It grew very quickly, and at one time, they were the largest Yacht dealer on the West Coast. He was a member of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club. At Long Beach Yacht Club, Stan helped create the Congressional Cup, which was match racing, and was a practice run for many sailors around the world that competed in the American's Cup. In 1975, Stan married Carolyn Dunlop, and the two of them traveled a great deal finding new lines of boats for their business. Stan won the Trans-Pac from San Pedro to Hawaii - twice - in his racing yacht - 'Ragtime.' Celebrities bought boats from Stan Miller Yachts and also raced in his many racing-matches that he created. The dealership was sold in 1988 when Stan and Jim decided to move to the Coachella Valley. Having a huge talent for playing music, his wife, Carolyn, encouraged him to form a Big Band. He found arrangements composed for many Big Bands of the 1930's-1950's era, and created an 18 piece - "STAN MILLER'S BIG BAND." Some of the original musicians of that era were still alive and he asked them to play in the Band. For 10 years, his 'Big Band' entertained at Charity and private functions "in" and "outside" our Valley. (He was even asked to entertain Frank Sinatra at one of his birthday parties.) When the "Band" folded, Stan and Carolyn moved to Astoria, Oregon for 8 years. In February of 2013, they moved back to our Valley. By then, Carolyn, who earlier, had been with the Palm Springs Art Museum, was suffering from cancer. She passed away in April of 2013. Stan then moved in with his brother Jim and his sister-in-law Jodie Miller of Palm Desert, until his death.

Stan leaves behind his brother, Jim Miller/Jodie, his daughter, Katlyn Breene/MIke, his former wife, Jackie Foster Miller, niece, Christie Miller/Mike, nephew, David Miller, sisters-in-law, Cheryl Steinkamp/Bob, Beth Dangos/Steve, and best friends, Marilyn/Lowell Smith of Novato, CA. The family also wishes to thank Zina Clark, owner of Victoria Falls Home Care, caregivers Dora and Debra, who were wonderful in helping Stan during his transition, and the staff at 5-Star Eisenhower Memory Care.